Leaving it all behind

[Black Eye Guy]

I started college in September doing Graphic Design, and I'm bored. The course is good but I don't want to be there, I've been absent more then I've been in since September, I took the first month off, and my official Christmas break started 2 weeks ago, but I took the two weeks off before that. Plus I only attended 2 Mondays since the start of the year, I haven't actually attended a full week yet!

I just have no motivation to go in, I have two friends who are doing the same, cuz we have each other to keep not going in with.

So what I've decided to do is drop out and work fulltime until september/october and then move to Hawaii for 2/3 months. Then on to Thailand where we could work as diving instructors for the rest of the year before going back to college after taking a year a year out.

Jus wondering did anyone do/plan to do the same, and what did you do?

 

[Kean]

Fair play to ya, I hate my course in U.L. too, don't really know why I'm still there. A friend of mine though dropped out of NUIG at the end of third year and this septmber she left on the usit round the world trip thing for 6 months. Think she is in Thailand now.

 

[GATEGOD]

I started college in September doing Graphic Design, and I'm bored. The course is good but I don't want to be there, I've been absent more then I've been in since September, I took the first month off, and my official Christmas break started 2 weeks ago, but I took the two weeks off before that. Plus I only attended 2 Mondays since the start of the year, I haven't actually attended a full week yet!

I just have no motivation to go in, I have two friends who are doing the same, cuz we have each other to keep not going in with.

So what I've decided to do is drop out and work fulltime until september/october and then move to Hawaii for 2/3 months. Then on to Thailand where we could work as diving instructors for the rest of the year before going back to college after taking a year a year out.

Jus wondering did anyone do/plan to do the same, and what did you do?

Sounds scary or exciting? Well I'd be too "omg omg What am I doing" and freak out, but if you do it with someone then I guess that would make it easier and fun

 

[palabravampiress]

I stuck through college, but I did a similar pick-up-and-move drastic life changing thing. I wasn't happy with my career in another state. I was, well, bored. My job paid the bills, but it wasn't exactly fulfilling. I picked up and moved to a more expensive state that at least had the industry of my choice in it. It was terrifying.

All I can really do is wish you luck. These things don't always work out. I, personally, am starting to regret my decision. I hope you don't.

One thing I will say is this: make sure you have a support network in place wherever you end up. Whatever you do, always have a backup plan. Change is exciting and exhilarating. I'm not really telling you not to go for it or not to be excited. I'm just telling you to have a backup plan in case things don't work out.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

Has anyone traveled across america, or have any idea how long it would take to drive from LA to Miami? Im gonna go look at a route planner, but it would be handy if anyone had a rough clue.

(Or if you know how long it would take from Miami to New York?)

 

[palabravampiress]

In my experience, it takes about 3 days of slow travel (in a U-Haul with two kitty cats) to get from Cincinnati to L.A. My hubby made it -- by himself in a normal car and without much rest -- in a day-and-a-half (or maybe 3/4). In a mini-van and with frequent pee breaks, the trip from Cincinnati to Orlando took about 16 hours.I'd say add about 10 hours to either trip, and you've got New York. That's not a very precise estimate, but it's the best I've got. 🙂

 

[Angels baby101]

hmm ok my dad used to drive truck across country and depending how you went but from like alabama to california it took 3-5 days by himself but that was also pretty much driving non stop... but if you were to travel the US like that it'd be worth it to stop at interesting spots along the way

 

[Hello Cutie]

I know how you feel about hating your course... im a law student in my final yr now, and last year I had a complete mental breakdown because I hated it so much, I just didnt wanna be there. The only thing thats made me go back is my stupid determination to complete it, even though I dont much want to.

 

[Blondie Bear]

Word of advice: unless you are independently wealthy, DO NOT MOVE TO HAWAII. The cost of living there is INSANE. The only places poor-ish people can afford to live are heavily populated by Polynesian and Oriental groups, and NONE of them are very fond of white people (the Hawaiians believe that we stole their land out from under them and want it back, and the Oriental groups, I think, have just jumped on the we-hate-Caucasians bandwagon). When I lived there I met lots of people in Waikiki who had come to visit or looking to move there and got stuck because they couldn't afford plane fare away, so they were living in the cheapest accommodations possible and doing stuff like street-busking in order to try to raise enough money to live and get off the island.

 

[palabravampiress]

My husband knows a guy who recently moved to Hawaii. He loves it. He says the cost of living is outrageous, but that it's worth it because of the weather and all of the outdoorsy activities in which he can engage. He's an avid fisherman and catches a lot of his own food. Since moving, he's lost a lot of weight and seems much happier and healthier. I don't know the guy very well and I'm not sure what he does for a living, but I thought I'd throw this out there. This guy did not do well at all in Ohio, but he seems to be flourishing in Hawaii.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I know how you feel about hating your course... im a law student in my final yr now, and last year I had a complete mental breakdown because I hated it so much, I just didnt wanna be there. The only thing thats made me go back is my stupid determination to complete it, even though I dont much want to.

Yeah I would have gone back if I was that close to finnishing it, but since I was half a year into it, the idea of being there for another 3 made me feel ill!

Word of advice: unless you are independently wealthy, DO NOT MOVE TO HAWAII. The cost of living there is INSANE. The only places poor-ish people can afford to live are heavily populated by Polynesian and Oriental groups, and NONE of them are very fond of white people (the Hawaiians believe that we stole their land out from under them and want it back, and the Oriental groups, I think, have just jumped on the we-hate-Caucasians bandwagon). When I lived there I met lots of people in Waikiki who had come to visit or looking to move there and got stuck because they couldn't afford plane fare away, so they were living in the cheapest accommodations possible and doing stuff like street-busking in order to try to raise enough money to live and get off the island.

Yeah we were looking at the accomidation over there, and know how exspensive it was. So we've changed the plan, we're gonna go to Hawaii for 4 weeks at the start of the trip and 4 weeks at the end!

We also wouldn't be going for a year, and the holiday wouldn't be slumming it at all, cuz we're not reall slumming it people, the house we were looking at in Hawaii to rent for a month is like $8000 and we're considering going for that one, just cuz it would be awesome!

My husband knows a guy who recently moved to Hawaii. He loves it. He says the cost of living is outrageous, but that it's worth it because of the weather and all of the outdoorsy activities in which he can engage. He's an avid fisherman and catches a lot of his own food. Since moving, he's lost a lot of weight and seems much happier and healthier. I don't know the guy very well and I'm not sure what he does for a living, but I thought I'd throw this out there. This guy did not do well at all in Ohio, but he seems to be flourishing in Hawaii.

Cool, I'd love to move over, but a 5 month trip around america is all im gonna do for now!

We deffo want to go for Las Vegas, and really want to rent the room in the hardrock with the pool and the bowling alley in it (The one from The O.C.), anyone been to Vegas?

 

[StuckinTraffic]

I've been to Vegas, and it pretty much rocks, except that on the weekends, it's REALLY crowded. Of course, everyone's there for the strip, so if you avoid that area, it's not that bad. Oddly enough, I've never been to the Hard Rock, tho. Gotta love a town where they give you free drinks for sitting in front of a slot machine, LOL!

 

[Mr. Pointy]

We deffo want to go for Las Vegas, and really want to rent the room in the hardrock with the pool and the bowling alley in it (The one from The O.C.), anyone been to Vegas?

Vegas is v cool but you might find it pales after the first few days...the incessant sound of slots and gaming started to wear on me after a while.

There are plenty of things to see and do and I would recommend the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton and, if you're really brave - I wasn't 🙂, the rides at the top of The Stratosphere. It's also quite fun touring up and down the Strip looking at all the different hotels and poking around at the attractions they all have inside...my fave was the Luxor.

I've been to Vegas, and it pretty much rocks, except that on the weekends, it's REALLY crowded. Of course, everyone's there for the strip, so if you avoid that area, it's not that bad. Oddly enough, I've never been to the Hard Rock, tho. Gotta love a town where they give you free drinks for sitting in front of a slot machine, LOL!

I hate to disagree with SIT but there's no such thing as a free drink 🙂 Cheaper, maybe...the waitress will expect at least $1 tip for fetching it (which is fair enough IMO) and the management aren't ever so keen on people who sit at slots and don't play them (though you don't have to bet a great deal but the more you do the better the service 🙂)
Just be wary...Vegas is a great place to visit (the best description I heard was from a lady we got talking to in Disneyland - "Vegas is Disneyland for adults") but despite appearances it's all about separating you from your money...there are loads of great-sounding offers but if it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is...

BTW - the worst hotel we stayed at was The Stratosphere...the best was The Luxor.

 

[StuckinTraffic]

I was playing.....granted, they were the nickel slots, but still! And I tip waitresses always, so by "free" I mean I didn't pay for the drink itself, just the tip. I think I lost all of $20 and I drank way more vodka than that, LOL! I'm with you on the Stratosphere. I love roller coasters, but I could NOT take that one! Wanted to ride the one at NY, NY, but I didn't get there last time....I'm going to be sure to make it my first stop next time I hit town. Have you ever been to that souvenir store, I forget the name of it....kind of at the North end of the strip, but not right on it, I think? They had everything you could ever think of with "Vegas" printed on it, and not expensive.

And yes, Vegas IS all about seperating you from your money. You can still have a good time, you just have to be smart about it.